As Arne Slot’s time as Liverpool boss continues to look more and more fragile with each passing week, his faith in one of his players might be costing him dearly. The Premier League champions fell to a 1-1 draw at home to Sunderland on Wednesday night, meaning they have now dropped points in six of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Nothing should be taken away from Regis Le Bris’ side, who went the extra yard and almost certainly deserved to earn their first victory at Anfield since 1983. It wasn’t meant to be in the end against a team they rattled to their core, as Florian Wirtz’s deflected shot found its way past Robin Roefs.
Whether that late equaliser is the only thing keeping Slot in the hot seat for now remains to be seen. But if he does get the chance to take charge of the lineup this weekend against another newly promoted side in Leeds United, one player he absolutely must stop picking is Alexis Mac Allister.
Alexis Mac Allister’s Mistake-ridden Display Against Sunderland
Last season, it was Slot’s ability to get the very best out of his midfield trio that was perhaps the biggest determining factor in the Reds winning their 20th league title. Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai levelled up astronomically under the Dutchman, while it was simply more of the same for Mac Allister.
But he has seemingly fallen off a cliff in the months since, and his presence in the engine room is so nonexistent that the word hardly feels enough to describe just how lacklustre he has been. His 72 touches in midweek included losing possession 11 times, and while his 86 per cent pass accuracy wasn’t particularly concerning, his constant loss of duels certainly was.
A key difference between the Liverpool that won the title and the version currently struggling to even call their efforts a title defence is their press – or lack thereof. The midfield has lost its shape, and aside from Szoboszlai, who never stops running, it has far less influence in transition and winning the ball back. While Gravenberch has become worryingly more attacking and technical, Mac Allister is no longer the bloodhound he once was, and his lack of strength has become increasingly apparent.
Nobody’s Drop-Off Has Been on the Levels of Mac Allister
A World Cup, Copa America, and Premier League winner, the drop-off has been steep for Mac Allister, who is clearly struggling with fatigue of epic proportions this term. But with it now being December, and the Argentine midfielder showing no sign of improvement, where he goes from here is beyond everyone.
One X user summed up the anxiety around his decline perfectly by highlighting: ” [Alexis] Mac Allister looks like Fabinho in his final season. One summer, and he’s physically fallen off a cliff. He’s 26.” Another added: “Mac Allisters form is one of the biggest drop offs in form I’ve ever seen,” as a third wrote:
“If Mohamed Salah is getting benched for his performances, then why is [Alexis] Mac Allister on the pitch?”
In the coming weeks, Curtis Jones – a player who demanded more aggression from his teammates after the 3-1 home defeat to PSV in the Champions League – has to start. He’s more press-resistant, drives the team forward more, and runs harder both on and off the ball. When he’s played, he has looked like everything Mac Allister left behind in the 2024/25 season.